Thursday, October 7, 2010

Be Prepared for What?

We checked out that amazing opportunity on Wednesday night and I was relieved to find that my dream had not fallen in front of me after all.

My current status quo continues unthreatened.

Dream Averted

However, an interesting thing happened this week as I was thinking about moving to the country. I began to research what God’s word has to say about being prepared.

I expected to be validated in my search for a place to set up camp in the country, build up my pantry, retreat to my roots, and prepare for the (zombie) apocalypse. I really did.

I did not validate my theory.

Check it out:
“In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me...” John 14:2-3


“No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him”
1 Corinthians 2:9 (quoting Isaiah 64:4)

The one doing the action of preparation in these verses is actually God. He is preparing a place, a home for us. No mention of expectation of action on our part. But here is something about us and preparation:

“If a man cleanses himself from [ignoble purposes], he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21

Oh, wait. That’s about God again, preparing us this time.

One more try:

“Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.” 2 Timothy 4:2

Hm. That’s still not about us being prepared for whatever apocalypse might befall us. It’s about preparing ourselves to spread the word of God patiently and carefully.

Then I am reminded of another passage. One that has comforted me at various times throughout the years. One specifically about not preparing, at least not in the sense for which I was seeking support. Jesus spoke these words during his famous Sermon on the Mount, recorded in Matthew 6:19-34:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also...


“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?


But seek first [God’s] kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.”


What I see in these verses tells me that God will take care of the details, of the preparation of our home. Our eternal home, yes, but our here home as well.


What I see reminds me to focus my preparations on the truly important:


God’s kingdom.
God’s righteousness.

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.”
2 Timothy 4:2

He’ll take care of the rest.

4 comments:

  1. Hi Krista-
    I just found your blog this morning and I wanted to say hi.
    I am also a Texas blogger.
    This was an inspirational post-

    Laura
    White Spray Paint

    ReplyDelete
  2. "2 Timothy 4:2"
    -AMEN!!!

    Thank you for the reminder.

    oxox-Camille

    ReplyDelete
  3. Krista,
    How wise of you to turn to Him for guidance and direction. How silly that I forget to do that so often.

    ReplyDelete
  4. also, you could try preparing for whatever apocalypse, and it will not be the one for which you tried desperately and faithfully to prepare.

    thanks for this reminder!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by! I love hearing from you.